CJ Collins Turns Pro and Takes 2nd Place in the 2019 Vans Showdown at the U.S. Open
Every year the US Open of Surfing takes over Huntington Beach, California and Vans puts on a skate contest inviting some of the best skaters to rip the skatepark on the beach. This year Vans put on the Vans Showdown, 4 skaters per heat for 5 minutes at a time. However, this year Toy Machine decided to add CJ Collins to their professional ranks surprising him via a special obstacle housing his new pro boards! Prior to the reveal, CJ’s family and fellow teammates gathered together during the contest to surprise him as he pulled his pro board out of the skate obstacle.
CJ turned pro surrounded by his family!
After the contest prelims, a party was organized at the nearby Shorebreak Hotel later that night. The party space was lined with some old photos of CJ ripping in his early youth and all the skaters from the contest were in attendance, but the biggest surprise was that Together Pangea, one of CJ’s favorite bands, was booked to play!
CJ Collins grew up skating at the Vans indoor park in Orange, CA and Omar Hassan, who was a regular at the park, has been watching him grow up and progress ever since! At CJ’s pro party Omar wanted to get a picture of the them together recreating this photo from Thrasher “Larry vs The Kid” article that was about the #VolcomRoadRager tour in 2018!
After skating all day and partying for a good portion of the night, CJ was still able to crush it in the Vans Showdown contest finals the next day. With the relaxed format and ability to skate all day in the heat without getting too worn out, CJ ended up taking home 2nd place! Teammate Axel Cruysberghs also put on a stellar performance and went home with 3rd!
